Analisa Sifat-sifat Mekanik Bahan Komposit Serabut Kelapa Sebagai Bahan Penguat

Abstract

A composite is a material made by microscopic combining two or different materials which have an excellence such as lightness and excellent mechanical property. In recent years, the use of natural fibre as reinforcement were in rapit development, coconut coir fibre as the example. A high potential coconut coir fibre has not been fully exploited. Assuming that the coconut fibre is not used optimally, it will be causing the environmental issued and going to a non-biodegradable waste. The research material made with coconut coir fibre as reinforcement and matrix resin unsaturated polyster (UPRs) type Yucalac 157 BQTN, with 1% hardener types MEXPO (MetiEtil Ketone Peroxide) and fibre treatment by 5% NaOH. Production methods are press hand lay-up, and the variantions of the fibre mass fraction are 5, 7,5 and 10 gram, and variations fibreleght are 2,4 and 6 mm, filler 40gram then printed into the mold. The tensile strength was tested by following the ASTM ( American Society of Mechanical Engineer) standard. This study aims to investigate the mechanical properties which are tensile strength and water absorption of polyster composite which is reinforced by coconut coir fibre. For the 10 gram fibre material, the average of tensile strength is 15.094 Mpa with Young’s modulus average as much as 239, 1161 Mpa. Next, for the 7,5 gram fibre material, the average of tensile strength is 13,18736 Mpa with Young’s modulus average as much as 217,1103 Mpa. Lasty, for the 5 gram fibre material, the average of tensile strength is 13,194 Mpa with Young’s modulus average as much as 190,1921 Mpa also water absorbtion is much as 0% (due to no occurrence of water absorption while the material is soaked for 5 hours). The result pointed out that the higher of fibre mass fraction so that higher of the tensile strength and water absorption. This study demonstrates the overload as fracture mode